MARIETTA — As local residents make their way to the polls they will be checking a mark on their ballot for  a new Washington County treasurer.

The two candidates running for the position are Republican Tammy Bates, 46, of Beverly and Democrat Carolyn Dempsey, 57, of Devola.

After 36 years as Washington County Treasurer Dorothy Peppel has decided to retire, leaving the position open.

Bates spent four and half years working under Peppel as a clerk in the treasurer’s office.

“I’ve done everything from answering emails to posting payments,” she said. “I’ve attended budget hearings, and numerous County Treasurer Associate meetings twice a year in Columbus.”

Bates, who is currently the confidential secretary for the Washington County Engineer’s Office, has also served on the Beverly Board of Public Affairs, the Fort Frye Local school board and the Washington County Career Center board.

Dempsey, who is currently a Muskingum Township Trustee, also serves as

president of the board and is on the executive committee for the Ohio Township Association.

On top of Dempsey’s government experience, the Democratic candidate has also owned  a business.

“I owned Quiznos in Marietta for seven years,” said Dempsey. “I handled all the finances for the business including all the hiring, training and purchasing.”

Most recently Dempsey served as the director of dining at Marietta College where she worked on developing, coordinating and overseeing teams.

Bates said she feels as if her hands-on experience in the treasurer’s office gives her the upper-hand in the race.

“It’s difficult to walk into this position without any experience in the office or with the taxpayers and to me that’s key,” said Bates. “I won’t have to rely on my co-workers to teach me my job. I’ll just know.”

Some of Bates accomplishments within the treasurer’s office includes creating the Washington County treasurer’s website.

“I designed our particular page and what was going to be set on it,” said Bates. “I made sure that I included the most information for the taxpayers as possible.”

Dempsey said her position as trustee combined with being a small business owner is a unique qualification for treasurer.

“I was able to take Quiznos Sub and completely turn it around within three months,” said Dempsey. “I understand how the county government works. I have worked with the commissioners and the auditor at a professional capacity.”

Running for treasurer was something Bates said she always knew she wanted to do.

“From the day I started the position as a clerk, I knew it was a possibility that I could do it,” she said.

After becoming a grandmother, Bates left the treasurer’s office after her current position offered her a significant pay increase.

“I just had to do what was best for my family at the time,” she said. “So this year Dorothy let me know that she was leaving and said that I should run.”

Dempsey said earning the position has been a longtime goal for her as well.

“This has been a goal of mine, this is not a win,” she said. “I didn’t decide to run just because Dorothy decided to retire from the position. I’ve wanted this position for a long time.”

Both candidates would like to provide new payment plans to the local taxpayers if elected.

“I’d like to get credit and debit card payments online as well as monthly payment plans,” said Bates.

With these types of online payment plans Bates said it will be easier for taxpayers to budget their taxes.

Bates said the Washington County Commissioners are already checking into the credit/debit card payments for their office as well as the rest of the courthouse.

“The ball is already rolling so it’s just the matter of all of us choosing the best carrier for our offices,” said Bates.

“As far as the monthly plan goes it will be immediate without any cost. It will be the first thing that I do.”

Dempsey said she has spoken with several other county treasurers to get the office up to date with online payments.

“I have been networking with them to see what has worked and what hasn’t worked and deciding what are the best carriers and companies to have with these types of payments,” she said.

Along with online payment, both candidates plan on updating the office’s technology.

“These investments are important for the county and whatever the treasurer can do to make more money on interest payments will be helpful for everyone in the county,” said Dempsey.

Dempsey said she will add new technology to the office that will end up saving them money.  “The very first meeting I have with the Investment Advisory Board I would present a new policy to allow the county to earn more interest on the money that they have already invested in,” she said.

Bates said she plans on updating all of the office’s computers.

“Some of the computer systems are old and I would love to see those updated,” she said. “I know that it’s going to take money and some time working with the commissioners to get those implemented, but I will try my best to get it done.”